Illuminated display sign and decorative element



Get 17; 1939. w BELKNAP AL 2,176,117

ILLUMINAIED DISPLAY- SIGN AND DECORATIVE ELEMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 N INV NTORS Oct. 17, 1939.

w. L. BELKNAP ET AL ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN AND DECORATIVE ELEMENT s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 23, 1939 N RR AAAAAUvvvvv INVENTORS 1 BY ZITORNEY5 L 17, 93 w. L. BELKNAP El AL 2,176,117

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN AND DECORATIVE ELE MENT Filer; Feb. 23, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 17, 1939. w L. BELKNAP ET AL 2,176,117

'ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN AND DEGGRATIVE ELEMENT Filed Feb 25, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 3 k \\#I I I l i I i r o I s- 9 0 E 5 0803:0 0 080 5 3|. 880 0 0920 E 1 27 I 0388 3: 3'; Z i I 0 020 0 i av A i z 5 l; 1" i '1' 6 "Ell i 1 44 j l 34 i I] l I I 5 E I 5 |l l 7 52 5 l l o E 888 n 84 3a i #3:; L F u I I I a l 5 l Oct. 17, 1939. w. BELKNAP ET AL 2,176,

I ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN AND DECORATIVE ELEMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 .17. 1-939. WLBELKNAP Em 2,116.11?

ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN AND DECORATIVE ELEMENT Filed Feb. 25, 1959 6 Sheets$heet 6 IN E TO 5 5] M1 ATTORNEYS,

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN AND' DECORATIVE ELEMENT Application February 23, 1939, Serial No. 257,774

24 Claims.

This invention relates to electrically illuminated display signs and decorative elements, and has for an object to provide an improved sign or decorative element which will give a more brilliant and attractive effect, and particularly is adapted for either intermittent or animated display.

It is also an object to provide a construction in which the separate elements or designs of the animated display are not Visible when the device is used for normal unanimated display.

Another object is to provide a construction'in which the display including the animated display can be changed without difiiculty or great expense.

A further object is to provide a new and improved means of mounting and supporting the display designs so that they may be displayed with a novel and more brilliant efiect, and more quickly attract attention.

With the foregoing and other objects in View we have devised a construction as illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be under- :tood that these are shown by way of example .rnd illustration, and that other constructions and arrangements may be employed within the scope of the invention.

In these drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a display sign constructed according to our invention showing ts appearance when illuminated from the front xnly and without the animation;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation illustrating a form animation which may be used, and with parts broken away'to more clearly show the construction and arrangement;

Fig. 3 is a rear view showing the arrangement for illuminating the various features of the display and effecting the animation, portions being broken away to show certain other constructions;

Fig. 4 is a partial edge elevation and partial section of the. device of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the section being substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figs, 5, 6 and 7 show front views of different ways of worming the letters or characters of the display;

Fig, 8 is a front view of a portion of a thin light transmitting sheet of material which is preferably used for a part of the display;

Fig. 9 is a detail section of a portion thereof taken substantially on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Figs. 10 and 11 are a section and a plan view, respectively. of a portion of a modified construction of screen;

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of a switch or commutator mechanism used for securing animation;

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are detail sections of means for mounting the lamps;

Fig. 16 is a front view of a smaller sign for indoor display which may be used employing our invention;

Fig. 1'7 is a side View thereof with parts broken away;

Fig. 18 is a rear View of the lower portion thereof;

Fig. 19 is a section substantially on line |9--l9 of Fig. 16; V

Fig. 20 is a section substantially on line 20-40 of Fig. 16;

Fig. 21 is a section substantially .on line Zl-Zl of Fig. 16

Fig. 22 is a longitudinal section through a portion of a sign showing a modification;

Fig. 23 is a transverse section thereof substantially on line 2323 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 24 is a front elevation of a portion of a sign showing one form of partitioning means which may be used;

Fig. 25 is a transverse section;

Fig. 26 is a front elevation of a somewhat different display using the principle of our invention;

Fig, 27 is a rear View thereof with parts broken away to more clearly show the construction;

. Fig. 28 is a transverse section substantially on line 28-28 of Fig. 26;

Fig. 29 is a front view showing a somewhat different arrangement and construction;

Fig. 30 is a longitudinal section thereof substantially on line 30-30 of Fig. 29; and

Fig. 31 is a detail section through a portion of the front panel and a dividing partition shown in Figs. 29 and 30 and on an enlarged scale.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 13, we have shown our invention as incorporated in a sign simulating the front of a stage and the proscenium arch. It may or may not be used with acurtainwhich may be raised and lowered or withdrawn and raised by hand as described in connection with i Figs. 16 to 21, and it could operate a control switch as described in connection with these latter figures. The construction shown comprises a frame I having upright sides 2 and the top curved portion 3 to simulate the front of the stage and the proscenium arch. This has an upright wall 4 through which is an opening 5 through which the display matter is visible. Extending over this opening immediately to the rear side of the wall 4 is a screen 6, and immediately to the rear of the screen is a sheet of thin light transmitting material I on which a portion of the display and particularly the animated portion is carried, the design being perferably printed on this sheet as will be more fully described later.

The screen 6 may be of different constructions, but in particular it is provided throughout its area, or at least the portion thereof which is used for display matter illuminated from the rear, with uniformly and closely spaced relatively small openings 8 through the screen. These openings may be round, square or other shape and are of a size which in proportion to the thickness of the screen will substantially conceal from view under ordinary conditions and when viewed from the distance from which it is intended that the display shall be viewed, the display matter which is immediately to the rear of the screen. In other words with the thicker screen and where the sign is so located as to be normally viewed from a greater distance the openings in the screen may be larger than where the screen is relatively thin and the display is to be viewed from a shorter distance. The screen may be made of different constructions and material. For example it may be of cardboard, metal or paper perforated with small closely spaced openings as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. However, we have found that a very satisfactory material and one which may be easily applied and will give a very brilliant effect is a wire mesh screen, such as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4. It will be noted that such a screen is provided with uniformly and closely spaced small openings 8 through the screen bounded by the wires of the screen, and the size of the openings will be determined by the fineness of the mesh. The metal of the wire also helps to enhance the brilliant effect secured by the sign on the sheet I when illuminated from the rear. We have found that normal or unanimated display matter can be painted or printed on this screen as shown in Fig. 1 which when viewed from a little distance is in no way impaired by the openings in the mesh. Thus as shown in Fig. 1 the side curtains 9 and the printing or other display matter If] may be painted or printed on this screen 6 in any desired colors, of course leaving the small openings through the screen open for passage of light from the animated or other display matter on the sheet 1 located to the rear of the screen, as will presently be described. The normal or unanimated display matter can be printed or painted on the screen in the same manner if this screen is made of a sheet of cardboard, paper or other similar material as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. In these figures the screen is shown at 6a and the small perforations or openings are shown at 8a.

The sheet I on which the other display matter including the animated display is mounted is preferably a flexible thin sheet of cellulosic or similar material. We have found a material known on the market as Lumarith to be very satisfactory as it is non-combustible and will hold the ink, paint or other pigmented material used for printing a design on this sheet, and for this reason various designs can be prepared at small cost and a large number of the same design prepared from the same dies greatly reducing the cost of the sign. The design is placed on this sheet preferably by printing, although it could be painted. Thus as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the portions l l are covered with opaque material printed on the sheet 7 leaving narrow light transmitting lines I2 for the character or display matter. Thus the letters I3, the border l4 and the outwardly extending ray effect iii are composed of narrow lines 62 of light transmitting material bounded by opaque material. These narrow lines are preferably translucent, although they may be clear, if desired. In the strokes of the letters as shown in Fig. 8 the narrow light transmitting lines 12 are separated by narrow opaque bands or strips '59. The translucent material may be colored any desired color, and these lines may be of the same or different colors so that the light transmitted through these narrow lines when illuminated from the rear may give different colored effects in the design or display. Thus after the opaque portions I l are printed on the sheet the whole surface or only the narrow lines or slots l2 may be covered with translucent material I6. This may be applied in various ways such for example as printing, painting, spraying, etc. or by pasting translucent colored paper over the portions desired. Such a material and manner of printing can also be used for ornamental articles such for example as lamp shades and the like giving a very novel effect. As this sheet 1 is mounted closely adjacent and preferably in contact with the rear wall of the screen 6 these lines are visible from the front of the screen through the small openings in the screen giving a very brilliant effect as the narrow lines of the design as seen from the front are in effect really composed of a series of closely spaced small openings through which the light is transmitted from the rear, giving a very brilliant effect, but when the light from the rear is cut off this design on the sheet 1 is invisible when viewed from the front and with illumination from the front of the screen only. Because of this the different figures required for an animated display can be placed on the sheet I and will be invisible from the front of the sign except when they are illuminated from the rear. Thus a much more effective animated display is secured because only the illuminated portion of the animated display is visible from the front and the other necessary figures or portions of this display are invisible when not illuminated and do not detract from the illuminated portion or the normal stationary display matter. Furthermore, when the illumination from the rear of the sheet is cut off none of the plurality of figures of the animated display matter are visible from the front of the sign. Thus when merely viewing the matter on the screen 6 as in Fig. 1 when illuminated from the front only there is nothing to indicate that the sign is an animated sign unless there is some statement to that effect on the screen.

An example of a type of animation which may be used and the construction and arrangement for producing same is shown in Figs. 2 to 12. Fig. 2 shows in front elevation the front surface of the design sheet I with various letters and other display matter thereon and the figures for producing apparent movement of a body or other design back and forth across the screen. Thus in this figure the two designs I! are the designs of which a part is shown more in detail in Fig. 8. At the rear of the sheet 1 and right against the back surface thereof are partitions 'or boxes separating the display into separate elements depending on how it is desired that they be displayed. Thus in the present example the portion of the sheet 1 carrying the words Make Your Ad Click forms the front wall of a closed box or compartment l8 comprising inside and rear walls I9 and 29, and mounted in the rear wall are any number of electric lamps 2| projecting through openings in the rear wall. These lamps may be mounted in various ways, but in the present case are mounted on panels 22 secured by any suitable means to the rear wall 29, such for example as the brass paper fasteners or staples 23. Panels 22 may be cardboard; sheet metal or other suitable material and carry the socket 24 for the lamp. The box walls l9 and 29 may be of any suitable material but we have found that cardboard works very well and may be easily mounted by angle strips 25 pasted to the side walls of the box and to the wooden frame 26 or the rear surface of the sheet 1. In the showing the four words of the top line are illuminated from a single compartment, but if it is desired that each word or each letter be lighted separately to give a more detailed animation this compartment may be divided into any desired number of smaller compartments by transverse partitions 29 of cardboard or other material between adjacent words or letters as desired;

Similarly there is a 'box or compartment 21 behind the words With A and compartment 28 behind the words Belmey-Lektrik. In this latter box, however, there are a series of transverse partitions 29 between the adjacent letters so that there is a separate compartment and a lamp for each letter and the line may be illuminated by illuminating the letters in succession beginning first with the letter B and so on to spell out the words, or they could all be flashed on at the same time. The same arrangement can be used for the other elements of the design, a box or compartment 3|] being used for the lower words Night and Day and cylindrical boxes or compartments 3| being used for the two designs H with a lamp 2| for each one. In the boxes or compartments the lamps may be conveniently mounted in a different manner. Thus as shown in Figs. 4 and 13 the socket may be mounted on the base of a flange or cupped member 32, flange 33 of which is adapted to slide over the circular rear wall or fiange 34 of the box or compartment. In Fig. 15 the tubular portion 34 may be provided with a lining sleeve 35 spaced inwardly from the outer end 36 and the lamp socket 24 may be mounted on a circular disc 3'! to be merely slid with a friction fit into the end of the cylindrical portion and against the sleeve 35 as a stop.

In the present design there is an animated display giving the effect of a girl in a swing swinging back and forth. Thus as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 a pictureof a girl sitting in a swing is shown at 3B, 39, 40 and 4|. These are printed in the desired positions on the sheet 1 immediately back of the perforated screen 6, and the designs are so made and located as to simulate the different positions a girl would assume in swinging back and forth in an actual swing, and to heighten the naturalness or similarity to actual conditions designs of branches of a tree with 'leaves, etc. may be combined as shown at 42 with thej'diiferentpo sitions of the girl.' These designs are'printed on sheet 1 as indicated in Figs; 8

and 9, that is the design is composed of narrow light transmitting slots or lines bordered by and 4| are on a portion of thesheet I forming the front wall of a box or compartment indicated respectively at 43, 44, 45 and 46 of Fig. 3, each compartment being separated from the others and each being separately illuminated. Thus the compartments 43 and 44 are separated by the walls 41, 44 and 45 are separated by the walls 48, and 45 and 46 are separated by the walls 49, and each has enclosing side walls 50. As noted each is also separately illuminated by one or more lamps 5| mounted on caps 32 as indicated in Fig. 13 slipped over cylindrical collars or flanges 52. They may be mounted in other ways however if desired, and it will be apparent that the illumination for each compartment iluminates the rear of the portion of the sheet I forming the front wall of the compartment, and, therefore each figure or design is illuminated from the rear by the lights for each compartment. Other parts of the design such as the decorations 53 may be illuminated by other lights such asthose mounted at 54, Fig. 3.

The various lights of the various compartments are flashed on and off at any desired se quence and for any desired time period by a motor operated commutator mechanism of any suitable design. One form is shown in Figs. 3 and 12 in which there is a rotating cylinder 55 carrying suitable metal contacting portions 55, 51, 58, and 59 separated by insulating portions 60,,6I, 62 and 63, and as this rotates it passes by a series of spring contacts 54, 65, 66 and 61. The lower contact B8 may contact the metal ring 59 which is continuous about the cylinder and electricallyconnected with the metal contacts on the surfaces. This contact 68 may be connectedby a lead 69 to one side of the supply linecable 10 Fig. 3, connected to an attachment plug 'l| to plug into any suitable outlet receptacle in a house wiring system. The other leads from the connected to one side of the sockets 24 for the various lights 2|, 5|, etc. in the various boxes and compartments to illuminate them in the sequences and time intervals as determined by their respective contacts engaging the contacts on the cylinder 55. The leads 73 from the other side of the lamp. Sockets are all connected to a common return 14 of the cable 10. No attempt has been made to show the complete wiring as this will be determined by the sequences desired contacts 64, 65, 66,and 51 indicated at 12 are 7 to spell out individual words or letters and flash them on at difierent speeds and time intervals. Also, the contacts 54 engaging the contact 56 may be used to spell out different letters of different words shown in Fig. 2. The inclined or curved dividing line I5 between this contact and insulation 60 flashes on the individual letters in succession so as to spell out the word beginning with the first letter, but keeping the letters lighted until the whole word or phase is lighted. The spaced insulating elements 63 control the circuits to the sunbursts or designs I! to flash them on or off.

The individual letters are formed or printed on the sheet I in the manner indicated in Figs. 5, 6 and '7. That is, the light portion of the letters comprise narrow lines or slits I6 and I! outlined or bounded by opaque portions 78 and 19, and the narrow lines I6 and I! are light transmitting, preferably translucent and may be colored as indicated in connection with the designs shown in Figs. 8 and 9, these light transmitting slits corresponding to the slits I2 of Figs. 8 and 9. The width of these slits or light transmitting lines should be narrow for best results although they may vary somewhat. Thus for relatively small indoor signs, in the letters as in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 we have found a very satisfactory result is secured if the translucent parallel slits I2 and 16 are about a thirty-second of an inch wide and the opaque dividing portions 19 are about a sixteenth of an inch wide. That is, for these small signs we have found that we apparently secure best results with about 3 2 of an inch slits and about of an inch wide wide opaque strips between them. The narrow translucent slits show very distinctly through the screen with the desired brilliance to give the effect desired. With larger signs to be viewed from a greater distance these slits and opaque bands can be wider, particularly with more illumination provided for the rear of the sheet carrying the designs. With these narrow light transmitting slits the outlines of the light bulbs are not visible but the slits are more uniformly illuminated, and the combination of the narrow light transmitting slits in combination with the small openings in the screen 6 in front gives a very brilliant effect.

The back of the sign as indicated in Fig. 4 may be enclosed or covered with a panel 80 secured to the frame 8| by any suitable means such as thumb nuts 82 on suitable bolts passing through the panel. The end walls may also be closed by panels 83, and to secure ventilation to prevent excessive heating these panels may be provided with air inlet openings 84 adjacent the lower ends and outlets 85 at their upper ends with a fan 86 operated by a motor 81 to increase the air circulation. This motor through the gearing 88 also operates the commutator cylinder 55 to control the flashing on and off of the lights for the designs and letters of the sign. If preferred, instead of controlling separate designs such as the sunbursts from this commutator cylinder such individual designs may be controlled by individual thermostatically operated flashing elements to be inserted in the lamp sockets of the individual design acting to alternately make and break the circuit to the lamp, such flashing element being well known on the market.

In Figs. 16 to 21 is shown somewhat diagrammatically the application of this principle to a small sign which may be used in a store window, on a counter or the like. It comprises a frame 89 of wood, cardboard or other suitable material having a central opening with inclined sides 90 to indicate the front of the stage, and the back of this opening is closed by a screen 9| corresponding to the screen 6 of Figs 1 to 4, and back of this screen is the flexible sheet on which the design is printed as indicated at 92 corresponding to the sheet I of Figs. 1, 2 and 3, this sheet and screen being secured to the back of the frame 89. At the front the stage opening may be surrounded by decorative walls 93 and the display design would be applied to the screen 9| and the sheet 92 the same as it is applied to the screen 9 and the sheet I in the first form described. Different letters and words and portions of a design may be illuminated by separate lamps and compartments as in the first form, but these separate compartments and lamps are not shown in Figs. 16 to 21 in order to simplify the drawings. Vertically slidable in the frame as by suitable guideways 94 may be a curtain or screen 95, and it has an extension at the top indicated at 96 so that it may be grasped to be raised and lowered, but preferably there is a hand grip 9'! at the rear surface, and a spring 98 gives sufficient friction to hold it in different positions. For controlling the illumination there may be a switch mechanism at the lower part of the frame comprising a spring contact 99 mounted at I99 and connecting to a lead IIJI. At its free end it normally engages a contact IE2 connected to a lead I93. These are leads controlling the motor 81 running the commutator 55 and the various lights. Above the spring contact 99 is a loop I04 extending above the lower member I95 of the frame in position to be engaged by the lower edge of the curtain 95 so that when the curtain is lowered it pushes the loop down to move the contact 99 away from the contact I92 to open the circuit, as shown in Fig. 18, and to thus stop the illumination when the curtain is lowered. When the curtain is raised the contact 99 moves into engagement with the contact I32 automatically starting the mechanism and the lights. This automatic switch control mechanism operated by this ourtain is used merely to illustrate that the mechanism can be automatically turned on and off by raising and lowering the curtain. Naturally in practice standard switches on the market would be used for this purpose.

In Figs. 22 and 23 is shown means whereby concentric portions or bands of a design can be separately illuminated for animation. Thus for example, a design comprising concentric bands I96 printed on the sheet I91 corresponding to the sheet I or 92 and used immediately back of the screen E98 corresponding to the screens 5 and 9|, has to the rear thereof a series of concentric cylinders or partitions I99, IIG, Ill and I I2 forming concentric light chambers each illuminated by a bulb H3, I l, H5 and H5 respectively. The inner band I96 is illuminated by the bulb H3, the next outer band is illuminated by the bulb H4 and so on, this being accomplished by making the cylindrical closing walls I99, IIEJ, Hi, and H2 of different lengths so as to give room for the bulbs H3 to H6, and each is in a separate compartment to illuminate its individual design or a portion of its design 06 on the sheet I91. The inner ends of the Walls I99 to I I2 may have a groove in which is mounted a ring or circular band II! of sponge rubber pressing against the rear surface of the sheet ID! to prevent light passing from one compartment to another or from one portion of the design to another. This sponge rubber effectively prevents passage of light but allows for variations in the shape of the surface of the sheet I01. To secure ventilation there is an outlet passage H8 from each compartment, and inlet passages II9 may be provided to secure circulation of air for cooling purposes, there being an inlet and an outlet for each compartment so that light will not pass from one compartment to the other through the air passages. The individual lights H3 to I I6 may be connected by suitable leads I29 to suitable control mechanism such as the commutator device 55 to give the desired animation by illuminating different portions of the concentric design in the desired sequence.

Where the letters or portions of the design to be separated for animation are very close together cardboard or similar material may be too thick for the dividing partitions. We have shown in Figs. 24. and 25 how the material the same as the sheet 1 may be used for this purpose. This is a sheet of thin cellulose material only a few thousandths of an inch thick, usually about three thousandths, and the letters I20 and I2I are printed on this sheet I22 of this material back of the screen I23 corresponding to the screen 6. The letters I20 and IN may be too close together for the use of cardboard for the partition I24 separating the light compartments I25 and I26 for illuminating these letters. If we take a piece of this thin cellulose material, one side of which is covered with opaque ink or paint and moisten one edge thereof with a suitable solvent for this material, generally a solvent containing acetone, this edge is softened or liquefled sufficiently as indicated at I21 to attach the edge of partition I24 of this material to the back of the'sheet I22 of the same material carrying the letters, and when the solvent evaporates the piece-of partition I 24 is practically an integral piece with thesheet I22. In this manner closely spaced portions of designs may be separated for individual illumination for adimation as desired by the lamps I28 connected to suitable commutator control means, such as the commutator 55.

Referring to Figs. 26 to 28 we have shown how theprinciple may be applied for animation for different types of designs. In the sign shown a casing I30 has an opening I3I in its front wall back of which is a screen I32 corresponding to the screen 6 and immediately back of this is a thin flexible sheet I33 of the thin light transmitting cellulose material the same as sheet 1 of the first form. Printed on this in narrow light transmitting'or translucent lines are various designsl34, I35, I36, I31, I38 and I39. The design I34 is a star of five points the design being in narrow light translucent slits or lines I40 separated by the narrow opaque portions I4I the same as the narrow light transmitting lines I2 and the opaque portions 19 of Fig. 8. Immediately back of the sheet I33 are partitions I42 forming separate boxes or compartments I43 one for each of the points of the star with a lamp I44 for each compartment. These partitions may be secured by pasting clips I45 to the partitions and the back of the sheet I33. These lamps for these different compartments may be connected to a commutator such as that shown at 55 andoperated in the same manner to flash on the lamps for the individual compartments in succession around. the star to simulate an effect of rotation to the star. Similarly the individual designs I35 to I39 may be enclosed at the back with individual compartments I46 illuminated by lamps I41. These can also be connected to the commutator to be flashed in any suitable sequence or time interval, or if preferred one of the thermal flashing units mentioned above may be inserted in the lamp socket for each design. As these thermal units never have the same period a quite novel efiect is secured because these various designs will be flashed on sometimes each separately in succession without any particular order, sometimes two or more together, and sometimes even all of them at one time thus giving a very great variation in the flashing on of these various des1gns.

In Figs. 29 to 31 is shown another variation more particularly a method of mounting. Here the frame E48 also carries a screen I49 corresponding to the screen 6 and immediately back of this the thin flexible sheet I50 'of cellulose material on which the design is printed corresponding to the sheet 1. The design illustrated also comprises a star I5I formed in the same manner as the star I34 of Fig. 26 and about it are other designs I52 and I53. The star is illuminated by a lamp I54 and a tube I55 flared at its front portion at I56 up to the rear of the sheet I50. About the edge of this flare is mounted a circular strip or ring I51 of sponge rubber engaging the back surface of the sheet I50. This sponge rubber is flexible, yielding and resilient so as to conform to irregularities in the surface of the sheet and make continuous contact throughout the periphery of the ring to prevent leakage of light from one compartment to the other. This strip I51 is conveniently mounted in a groove formed by an outer ring I58 secured to the outer side of the flare. Similarly the designs I52 and I53 may be illuminated by lamps I59 in tubes I60 at the back of each design and carrying at their forward ends a sponge rubber ring I6I engaging the back of the sheet I50 the same as described in connection with the flare I56, to prevent leakage of light. The tubes I 55 and I60 may be mounted in a suitable frame comprising spaced walls I62 and I63. The tube may be of cardboard or similar material as well as the frame, making a light construction of low cost. The lamps for these designs I5I, I52 and I53 may be connected with a commutator similar to that of 55 for the flashing operation or animation, or the thermo flashing units previously mentioned may be supplied one in each socket to flash on and off the lamps.

In some cases the openings in a portion of the area of the screen v5 can be filled with opaque paint or plastic material to enclose a character or characters to prevent light rays from being transmitted through the screen thus eliminating otherwise unnecessary printing on the translucent sheet 1.

The screen can also, if desired, have colored or plain glass beads or translucent beads, inserted into the perforations representing the translucent characters to add a. novel effect, or it can have a cotton flock or any suitable material or material in colors fastened to its face to give it an embossed effect.

In all forms the walls of the compartment form light diffusing and reflecting means to give uniform and maximum illumination for the design on the portion of the translucent or light transmitting sheet forming the front of the compartment. Also, the screen 5, 9I, I08, I32, etc. serves to reenforce and support the thin flexible light transmitting or translucent sheet 1, 92, I01, I33,

'etc. which may if desired be fastened to the rear of the screen or to the frame of the sign or both.

The sheet is supported and held flat by the screen.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, what we claim is:

1. In a sign, a screen uniformly perforated throughout, a sheet of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and having a design thereon comprising opaque portions and light transmitting portions comprising narrow lines, and means for illuminating said sheet from the rear so that the light transmitting portions of the design will be visible through the perforations in the screen, said perforations being relatively small so that the design ispractically invisible from the front of the screen in the absence of illumination from the rear of the design.

2. In a sign, a wire mesh screen, a sheet of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and having a design thereon comprising opaque portions and light transmitting portions, said light transmitting portions comprising narrow lines separated by narrow opaque portions, the screen being of sufficiently fine mesh that the design is not visible from the front of the screen in the absence of illumination from the rear of the design, and means for illuminating the design from the rear so that the light transmitting portions are visible through the screen.

3. In a sign, a screen uniformly perforated throughout with closely adjacent small openings,

a sheet of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and having a design thereon comprising opaque portions and colored light transmitting portions comprising narrow lines, means for illuminating the rear of said sheet so that the light transmitting portions of the design will be visible through the perforations in the screen, and display matter on the front surface of the screen visible under illumination from the front.

4. In a sign, a screen provided throughout its surface with small, closely and uniformly spaced openings through the screen, a sheet of translucent material immediately back of the screen having characters printed thereon comprising opaque and translucent portions comprising narrow lines, said screen having display material on its face for daylight visibility in the absence of light from the rear, and means for illuminating the translucent sheet from the rear so that the translucent portions of the characters are visible through the openings in the screen.

5. In a sign, a screen having small openings closely and uniformly spaced throughout, a sheet of translucent material immediately adjacent the rear surface of said screen and having characters thereon including portions of apaque material leaving translucent portions comprising narrow lines, said openings being of a size which is in such proportion to the thickness of the screen that the characters on the translucent sheet are concealed when viewed from the front under ordinary conditions of lighting from the front and for the distance it is intended to be viewed, and means for illuminating the translucent sheet from the rear.

6; In a sign, a sheet of translucent material adapted to be used immediately back of a screen having small closely and uniformly spaced openings, said sheet having characters thereon comprising printed opaque portions and narrow lines of light transmitting portions which are visible through the perforations of the screen when the sheet is illuminated from the rear.

'7. In a sign, a sheet of thin flexible light transmitting material having printed on a face thereof a design including opaque portions in narrow lines separating light transmitting portions in narrow lines, and means for illuminating said sheet from the rear.

8. In a sign, a sheet of thin flexible light transmitting material printed on the rear face thereof to form a design including opaque portions and light transmitting portions in narrow lines, a design printed on the front face of translucent material over the light transmitting portions of the rear design, said front design being visible when illuminated from the front for daylight visibility and hiding the rear design in the absence of illumination from the rear, and means for illuminating the sheet from the rear to cause the rear design to be visible from the front.

9. In a sign, a wire mesh screen, a sheet of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and having a design thereon comprising opaque portions and light transmitting portions comprising narrow lines, the screen being of sufficiently fine mesh that the design is not Visible from the front of the screen in the absence of illumination from the rear of the design, and means for illuminating the design from the rear so that the narrow light transmitting portions are visible through the screen.

10. In a sign, a screen uniformly perforated throughout with closely adjacent small openings. a sheet of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and having a design thereon comprising colored light transmitting portions in narrow lines separated by narrow opaque strips, means for illuminating the rear of said sheet so that the light transmitting portions of the design will be visible through the perforations in the screen.

11. In a sign, a screen provided throughout its surface with small, closely and uniformly spaced openings through the screen, a sheet of translucent material immediately back of the screen having characters printed thereon comprising translucent portions in narrow lines separated by narrow opaque bands, and means for illuminating the translucent sheet from the rear so that the narrow translucent portions of the characters are visible through the openings in the screen.

12. In a device of the character described, a sheet of thin flexible imperforate light transmitting material having characters printed thereon comprising narrow translucent lines separated by narrow opaque bands, said translucent portions being visible from the front of the sheet when it is illuminated from the rear.

13. In a sign, a screen uniformly perforated throughout with small closely adjacent openings, a sheet of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and having thereon a series of designs comprising opaque portions and light transmitting portions comprising narrow lines, means at the rear of said sheet forming separate compartments with the portion of the sheet having a design forming the front wall of the compartment, lamps for illuminating the individual compartments, and means for flashing on and off the lamps of the respective compartments.

'14. In a sign, a screen provided throughout with small, closely and uniformly spaced openings, a sheet of translucent material immediately back of and closely adjacent the screen having thereon a plurality of designs comprising opaque portions and narrow translucent lines, means at the rear of the sheet forming an independent compartment at the rear of each design, and means for independently illuminating the individual compartments.

15. In a sign, a screen provided throughout with small, closely and uniformly spaced openings, a sheet of thin translucent cellulosic material having printed thereon a design comprising narrow lines of light transmitting portions, means forming compartments at the rear of the sheet for different portions of the design, said means including a partition of similar cellulosic material as the sheet having an opaque coating and arranged with an edge engaging the rear surface of the sheet and secured thereto by similar cellulosic material, and means for illuminating the compartments.

16. In a sign, a screen having closely adjacent uniformly spaced small openings throughout, and a thin flexible sheet of translucent material secured at the rear of and against the screen so that the screen supports and holds the sheet flat, the sheet being provided with a design including opaque portions and light transmitting portions comprising narrow lines, and means for illuminating the sheet from the rear thereof.

17. In a sign, a screen having closely adjacent and uniformly spaced small openings throughout, a thin sheet of translucent material secured at the rear surface of the screen, said sheet being printed to form designs including opaque portions and translucent colored portions comprising narrow lines, a compartment at the rear of the sheet with the edges of its walls engaging the sheet, and illuminating means in the compartment, the walls of the compartment comprising light reflecting and diffusing means to illuminate the rear surface of the sheet.

18. In a sign, a screen having closely adjacent uniformly spaced small openings throughout, a thin flexible translucent sheet closely adjacent the rear surface of the screen, said sheet being printed to form a plurality of designs comprising opaque portions and translucent colored portions comprising narrow lines, the openings in the screen being of a size so that the designs are hidden by the screen in the absence of illumination from the rear of the sheet, a plurality of compartments at the rear of the sheet with the walls of the compartments coming up to the sheet so that the portion of the sheet carrying a design forms the front Wall of the compartment, lamps in the compartments, and means for operating the lamps of the compartments in succession to illuminate the designs in succession to give the effect of movement. 7

19. In a sign, a screen having throughout small closely and uniformly spaced openings, a sheet of translucent material closely adjacent the rear surface of the screen having printed thereon designs comprising opaque and translucent portions, a compartment at the rear of the design with walls forming light reflectors to reflect light onto the design, said wall extending up to the sheet, a strip of soft yielding resilient material mounted at the edges of the compartment walls and engaging the sheet to conform to the surface of the sheet, and a lamp in the compartment.

20. In a sign, a screen having small closely and uniformly spaced openings, a translucent sheet immediately to the rear of the screen having a design printed thereon comprising opaque and translucent portions with different light transmitting portions arranged one within the other, walls at the rear of the sheet forming compartments'of different sizes with the smaller enclosed within a compartment of larger size, the larger compartment being longer than the smaller to form space for lamps, and the walls extending up to the rear face of the sheet to separate the compartments so that each portion of the design is illuminated by the light of its respective compartment.

21. In a sign, a screen member, a sheet member of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and having a design thereon comprising colored light transmitting portions, said screen having closely adjacent small openings therethrough in alignment with the colored portions of the design and arranged so that when illuminated from the rear the design is visible from the front of the screen in narrow lines of openings through the screen, means for illuminating the design from the rear, and the portions of one of said members out of alignment with said lines of openings being opaque.

22. In a sign, a wire mesh screen having small closely adjacent openings, a sheet of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and. having a design thereon comprising colored light transmitting portions, means for illuminating the rear of the sheet so that light transmitting portions of the design will be visible through openings in the screen, and the remaining portions of the screen being filled in so as to make it opaque except for narrow lines of small openings in alignment with the light transmitting portions of the design so that the design will appear from the front of the screen as narrow lines of light transmitting openings when the sheet is illuminated from the rear.

23. In a sign, a wire mesh screen member having small closely adjacent openings, a sheet member of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and. having a design thereon comprising colored light transmitting portions, means for illuminating the rear of the sheet member so that light transmitting portions of the design will be visible from the front of the screen through openings in the screen in alignment with said portions, and the other portions of one of said members being opaque with the opaque portions so arranged that the design appears from the front in lines of narrow openings when illuminated from the rear.

24. In a sign, a screen uniformly perforated throughout with closely adjacent small openings, a sheet of light transmitting material closely adjacent the rear surface of said screen and having a design thereon comprising opaque portions and light transmitting portions comprising narrow lines, and means for illuminating the said sheet from the rear so that the light transmitting portions of the design will be visible from the front of the screen through the perforations in the screen in alignment with said narrow portions.

WILLIAM L. BELKNAP. EDWIN L. MEYER.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,176,117 October 17, 19L 04.

4 WILLIAM L. BELKNAP, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as iollows: Page 1, first column, line #6, for"-worming" read -forming-; and second column, line 14.7, for "are are" read --arepage 5, first column, line 52, after "socket" insert the reference numeral 211"; line 55, for "flange" first occurrence, read flanged; and second column, line 29, for "iluminates" read --illuminates-; page it, first column, line 55, for "wide wide" read wide-'-; and second. column, line 58, after "loop" insert --lO)1-; li 61, for "lb." read --llLL--; line 70, for "06" read lO6-; page 5, first column, line 111, for "of" read -or---; line 1411, for "adimation" read -animation; page 6, first column, line 6i, claim 5, for ."apaque" read --opaque-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of October, A. D, 19b,o;

. Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

